Veterans Day Travel Options Honor Those Who Served

Veterans Day is coming up this weekend and a number of travel options available allow discounted fares, admission and fees to those who have served in the U.S. military. It’s a fitting tribute from the travel community to service members who may have traveled the world in defense of our nation.

Bed and Breakfast for Vets
Now in its third year, B&Bs for Vets has over 200 participating Bed and Breakfasts and Inns across the US and Canada, which will be offering veterans a free night’s stay on Saturday November 10, the night before Veterans Day.

Available to both active duty military members and veterans, space is limited but each Inn and B&B has at least one room available for this promotion and reservations must be made directly through the participating Inns and B&Bs.

Free Meals and Discounts
Discounted or free meals for veterans on Veterans Day this Sunday are being offered from a variety of restaurants including Chili’s, Applebee’s, Longhorn Steakhouse and others. On Monday, November 12, other restaurants, including the Olive Garden and T.G.I. Friday’s, have a special deal. See all the deals they know about at The Military Wallet.

Free Theme Park Admission
Active-duty military members can get a free day at Seaworld, Busch Gardens or another select Anheuser-Busch park for themselves and up to three dependents. That’s part of an ongoing Here’s To The Heroes program and advance registration is required.

Knotts Berry Farm has Military Tribute Days that honors military members past and present by offering free park admission from November 1 – 21, 2012.

Colonial Williamsburg is offering free admission for the weekend to active duty military personnel, guard and reservist, retirees veterans and their families for Nov.9-12.

Admission grants access to Colonial Williamsburg’s Revolutionary City and Art Museums as well as special Veteran’s Day programming, including a brief memorial service in the picturesque garden behind the Governor’s Palace held by the Williamsburg Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution.

Fantasy of Flight- free admission
Florida’s Fantasy of Flight museum has Veterans Day Salute: A Celebration of Service, an encore presentation of Fantasy of Flight’s Legends & Legacies Symposium Series. On hand will be five veterans of World War II and Vietnam sharing their personal stories. In addition, six military aircraft that flew in those conflicts will be featured and flown.

From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 10 and Sunday, Nov. 11, active duty, retired, reserve and veterans with valid ID will receive free admission during the Veterans Day Salute.
Fantasy of Flight is located in Polk City, Florida.

Free Car Washes for Veterans Day
Since 2004, non-profit Grace For Vets has hosted an international program that unites the car wash industry each year providing free car washes to ALL veterans and service personnel. In 2011, they gave away over 100,000 car washes. This year, with over 1,800 locations participating they hope to beat that number.

Most of these offers require proof of military service for active or retired service members and it’s a good idea to call ahead to be sure your local branch of a chain operation honors the deal.


[Photo credit: Flickr user West Point Public Affairs]